Chapter 42-C

"Why, Ma?" Jewel swallowed hard, not believing what her mother had said. "We can take the land title back from them. And we have been planting and reaping harvests on Aisle for ten years so it's possible to take it back when they let us use the Aisle for ten years!"

"That's because your father asked the Mayor. The Hernandez already has a lot of land so they let us plant and harvest in Aisle. But that doesn't mean they will allow us forever. So your father and I had planned to marry you off to the Mayor's son to make sure that our clan will not lose ownership..." Her mother smiled softly. "For the sake of the next generation of our clan, Jewel."

"Maybe we can buy the Aisle again!"

Donya Belinda shook her head. "You can only buy a title if the current owner sells it, Jewel. We can't take it back until the Hernandez decides to sell, but how long should we wait for it? We don't want to pass on to you and your children the weight of the Aisle's responsibility."

"But you married me off to G